Turkish Airline

  My favorite airline, of the dozen or so I've tried, is Turkish Airline.  They do not make a fuss about overweight baggage, are very courteous and helpful in all respects, and serve restaurant-style meals with unlimited beverages, snacks, and sandwiches, even in economy class.  Each seat comes with its own screen on which various channels are available, with games, movies, t.v. shows, documentaries, shorts, travel info, and many other things for all ages.  My son can literally be on it nonstop throughout the 10-or-so hour flight, with no complaint.  I cannot sleep sitting up, so I watched almost 4 movies.  That's probably the most movie watching I've had in the last 6 months!
     Upon arriving to Istanbul Attaturk Airport, I have to go through the visa line (only $20), have my son's citizenship card checked and American passport stamped (he has full dual citizenship...I don't have my Turkish passport yet, only family card...need to finish that process...lazy me.)  Then, on to baggage claim.  I hate baggage claim in every airport...waiting with the crowds of people while suitcases come down the belt, spotting yours, elbowing your way to the right spot, then wrestling the bigger bags off without hitting anybody, all the while keeping the eyes in the back of your head trained on your child guarding the baggage cart.
    This trip, our plane took off on time, and we actually arrived early.  There was some storm we flew through over the Atlantic, with a little turbulence, and I wonder if it pushed us along a little...we were 40 mintures early!  It gave us time to freshen up in the airport bathroom before seeing the family...I always feel like I must look like I flew here on my own power (without benefit of an airplane), after a 10-or-so hour flight.  (It's an embarrassing way to meet people!)  It's funny to sit and watch the throng, as they search for their arrivers, some with signs in hand, or flowers, while we sit in comfort, knowing ours in on the way.  We actually saw the family, before they saw us, as they came through airport security.  (In Istanbul, you must go through a security gate, complete with metal detectors, upon entering any airport or official building of any kind...even in bigger shopping malls.)  The 3 children, Little Sir's closest age-peers here, cousins in our apartment building) have all grown so much in 11 months time, as has he.  Ulas (U-losh), nearly 14, is taller than everyone, approaching 6 foot, and has developed a deeper voice.  Sidal (See-doll), just 11, has gotten beautiful and mature-looking, with a new almost-womanly grace beyond her years.  Mert-can (Mert-John), 12, is the same as before, just taller, looking like he's been on a stretching-machine, with the same handsome face and impish grin...you know he's cooking up some adventures to come.  When the 4 children see each other, they revert to their littler selves, shedding the newfound maturity, and become playmates again, as they have been since first meeting 7 years ago.  For the rest of the trip, they will be mainly inseparable, except for when Ulas is at work...another new development.  He has a summer job working with Hasan, his father, in a print shop.  He has some tatil days (holiday), so can play with them until work resumes Monday morning.

     And so the trip begins, leaving New York on July 12, arriving July 13.